Language/Polish/Vocabulary/Telling-Time
As a Polish language teacher with 20 years of experience, I am excited to introduce you to the world of telling time in Polish. In this lesson, we will cover everything from basic vocabulary and pronunciation to the difference between the 12-hour and 24-hour time formats. Whether you are new to Polish or just looking to brush up on your language skills, this lesson is perfect for anyone starting their journey towards A1 fluency.
Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: Introduction & Sightseeing.
Basic Vocabulary
Before we begin, let's review the basic vocabulary you'll need to tell time in Polish. These words are simple to learn and essential for the rest of the lesson:
- godzina - hour
- minuta - minute
- sekunda - second
- północ - midnight
- południe - noon
- rano - morning
- wieczór - evening
- noc - night
With these basic vocabulary terms, you can now start learning how to tell time in Polish.
Telling Time
In Polish, there are two ways to express time - the 12-hour format and the 24-hour format. It is important to be able to tell time using both formats, as they are both commonly used in Poland.
12-hour format
The 12-hour format is based on the AM/PM system, similar to English. To tell time using the 12-hour format in Polish, follow these steps:
1. Start with the hour. 2. Add either "rano" for AM or "wieczorem" for PM, depending on the time of day.
For example:
- 8:00 AM - osiem rano
- 4:30 PM - czterdzieści pięć po czwartej wieczorem
Notice that when using the 12-hour format, we always use the full hour, followed by the phrase indicating AM or PM.
24-hour format
The 24-hour format is the standard time format used in Poland, and eliminates the confusion between AM/PM. You can think of it as using military time. Here are the steps to tell time using this format in Polish:
1. Start with the hour. 2. Add "zero" before the hour if it is before 10:00. 3. Add "dwadzieścia" before two-digit hours from 20:00 to 23:00. 4. Add "po" followed by the number of minutes.
For example:
- 13:15 - trzynaście zero piętnaście
- 22:45 - dwadzieścia dwie zero czterdzieści pięć
Notice that when using the 24-hour format, we always use the two-digit hour, followed by "po" and the number of minutes.
Practice Telling Time
Now that you have learned the basics of telling time in Polish, it's time to practice! See how well you can tell time with the following examples (use either the 12-hour or 24-hour format):
1. 6:30 AM 2. 19:20 3. 10:15 PM 4. 16:50 5. 8:55 AM
Check your answers below:
- 6:30 AM - sześć trzydzieści rano
- 19:20 - dziewiętnaście dwadzieścia
- 10:15 PM - dziesięć piętnaście wieczorem
- 16:50 - szesnaście pięćdziesiąt
- 8:55 AM - osiem pięćdziesiąt pięć rano
Conclusion
Congratulations on learning how to tell time in Polish! With this lesson, you now have the knowledge and tools to confidently express time in both the 12-hour and 24-hour formats. Don't forget to practice and try out your new skills with native speakers.
I hope you found this lesson helpful and informative. Keep up the good work and continue your journey towards A1 fluency in Polish!
With this lesson finished, you may want to explore these additional pages: Health & Clothes.
Videos
Telling the time in Polish | KTÓRA GODZINA? - YouTube
Other Lessons
- Holidays
- Slang
- Advanced Food and Drink Vocabulary
- Introduction
- Count from 0 to 100
- Numbers 1 100
- Sports
- Medecine
- Seasons
- Count to 10
Sources
- Telling Time in Polish - Everything You Need to Know
- How To Tell The Time In Polish
- Date & Time in the Polish language | Mówić po polsku